It’s time to move out of the maze and into the third dimension as we take a look at the most effective 3D PacMan video games of all time!

Iconic yellow dot muncher PacMan has been a online game hero since earlier than many Retro Dodo readers had been born (and, me apart, a lot of the workforce right here too!).

Yet he has lengthy shed his easy 2D maze recreation origins and leapt into the world of 3D, starring in a wide range of video games that match into every kind of genres.

Which ones are the most effective although? 

Let’s discover out, as we take a look at the most effective 3D PacMan video games of all time!

10. PacMan VR (1996)

Though little identified and barely remembered, this arcade VR title felt impossibly futuristic within the mid-90s – and I ought to know, as I managed to play it myself at Namco Station in London again within the day!

Though it was undeniably technically spectacular and immersive when it was launched, it wasn’t essentially the most sensible design for VR, with considerably sluggish motion and low body fee. 

Also, PacMan VR was not solely costly to play, but additionally pricey for arcades to truly maintain working – the design and operation of the Virtuality machine necessitated a member of employees to be current as a way to help gamers with coming into and exiting the sport always.

It was positively a novelty, however it’d be superb to see PacMan as soon as once more make an look in VR, given what is feasible with at present’s headset expertise!

The Wii performed host to very large numbers of multiplayer centered mini-game collections – so it shouldn’t be a shock to see Pac-Man starring in a single too!

That’s what we have now with PacMan Party, which was launched to coincide with PacMan’s thirtieth Anniversary (handily explaining the celebration theme!).

Given the title, it’s not a shock that PacMan Party additionally unashamedly rips off the Mario Party method for its chaotic multiplayer motion!

Players run round a board, participating in mini-games as a way to win cookies – with the goal being to have essentially the most cookies when the sport ends.

Up to 50 mini-games are included for as much as 4 gamers to compete on – and there’s a single participant Story Mode included known as Mr. Cookie’s Recipe too!

Also included is a Classic Games mode, which permits entry to the unique variations of PacMan, Galaga and Dig Dug.

It’s a disgrace the mini-games are a bit too comparable to one another and the board recreation facet drags the sport size out – however that is nonetheless a enjoyable little diversion in any case, particularly with different gamers.

You’ll additionally discover Pac-Man Party on our listing of the finest Nintendo Wii Party Games!

Released again in 2013 – and lasting for 3 seasons – the PacMan and the Ghostly Adventures cartoon reinvented our little yellow hero as a teen, with surprisingly deep lore.

Its character designs had been fairly divisive nonetheless, together with the visible look of the ghosts – which got here in all sizes and styles, slightly than simply sticking to being a single form with solely their color to tell apart them.

The basic Ghost Gang – Blinky, Inky, Pinky and Clyde – had been on PacMan’s facet too, bizarrely, which is unquestionably not the case in different Pac-Man video games (take a look at our all Pac-Man ghosts listing for extra on these!).

This recreation based mostly on the sequence is an easy 3D platform recreation that’s simple to choose up and play – for Pac-fans of any age!

The Kirby-style transformations that Pac can bear when consuming particular energy berries are entertaining and do add a little bit of selection to the proceedings. 

This is way wanted, as sadly, the degrees in PacMan and the Ghostly Adventures are very linear and don’t have a substantial amount of replay worth.

That stated, it’s the proper introductory recreation for youthful gamers who is perhaps delay by the basic, 2D PacMan video games – it’s daring, vibrant and comparatively forgiving to play too.

The second recreation based mostly on the aforementioned CGI-animated sequence, PacMan and the Ghostly Adventures 2 presents extra of the identical when it comes to its gameplay and aesthetics.

It is, nonetheless, a bit extra on the difficult facet – which makes it very best for us seasoned PacMan followers, however much less so for the youthful gamers who had been so nicely served by the unique recreation.

It was lambasted critically for providing little new over its predecessor upon launch, however followers of the unique are more likely to take pleasure in sinking their enamel into this entry within the sequence. 

PacMan and the Ghostly Adventures 2 can typically really feel extra like DLC for the primary recreation than a full blown sequel, however it’s nonetheless a reasonably competent 3D platform recreation and one which’s value monitoring down for die-hard followers.

Is it the legislation of diminishing returns or one thing extra sinister that sees PacMan World 3 rank decrease than the earlier video games within the sequence?

Released to coincide with PacMan’s twenty fifth Anniversary, this third entry within the Pac-man World sequence sees PacMan converse for the very first time in any online game (although we’d heard his voice within the short-lived 1982 animated TV present!).

It additionally options a way more action-oriented model than its 3D platformer predecessors, with quite a few modifications to the gameplay.

PacMan World 3 additionally sees PacMan in a position to take management of the enormous Toc-Man – basically a mech and beforehand a boss stage enemy within the Pac-Man World video games – at just a few set factors within the story.

Just as in PacMan and the Ghostly Adventures – which got here a lot later – PacMan groups up with ghosts to tackle an much more harmful enemy: a diminutive character named Erwin, who’s realized methods to suck vitality from the Spectral Realm, placing each the Spectral Realm and Pac-Land in peril.

Players may also take a look at the historical past of PacMan video games utilizing the museum characteristic – in addition to play a port of the unique PacMan arcade recreation. 

Following the enjoyable Pac Pix, through which gamers used the touchscreen to attract their very own hilariously wonky, animated PacMan – and which you’ll discover on our listing of underrated DS video games – Pac ‘n Roll was PacMan’s second DS journey.

It had much more depth than Pac-Pix, with a touchscreen mechanic that noticed gamers rolling PacMan round expansive 3D environments as if he was a very responsive ball!

Just like within the basic PacMan maze video games, Pac-Man should eat Pac-Dots and keep away from Ghosts (although Power Pellets can be utilized to show the tables on these pesky enemies). 

However, quite a few energy ups can be found that give PacMan numerous talents – just a few examples embody consuming Knight chocolate, which provides PacMan armour that permits him to stroll underwater and break steel crates, or consuming Wing chocolate that provides PacMan the flexibility to quickly fly over quick distances. 

Once a sure variety of Pac-Dots are eaten, gates inside levels will open and permit PacMan to progress.

It’s a fast-paced, enjoyable recreation that makes nice use of the touchscreen. It was remade as a part of Namco Museum Remix on the Wii, however the movement controls had been nowhere close to as nicely carried out because the DS touchscreen controls – and it’s a way more irritating recreation consequently.

Stick to the unique and also you gained’t go far improper – it greater than earns its place on the most effective 3D PacMan video games listing! 

Is it dishonest to place this right here, provided that it’s a kart racing recreation?

We don’t assume so – it’s a 3D recreation starring PacMan, in spite of everything!

Super Mario Kart has quite a bit to reply for, doesn’t it? It spawned a complete racing recreation subgenre – unsurprising, given its high quality; simply take a look at its place on our listing of the finest SNES racing video games – and Pac-Man World Rally (referred to as simply PacMan Rally in Europe) was Namco’s first try at bringing their yellow hero to kart racing.

It’s an ideal recreation too, with some intelligent gameplay touches that make nice use of the characters – resembling collectible Pac-dots that fill a meter as they’re collected. 

Once full, the participant can flip the opposite racers into ghosts and chomp them out of the race for just a few moments!

There’s additionally loads of modes to play by, in each single participant or 4 participant multiplayer.

It’s a disgrace that the one sequel it acquired was PacMan Kart Rally on iOS, Android and Fire TV. 

Due to 2 of these variations being delisted just a few years in the past, the one method to play it’s by way of Fire TV, which isn’t the simplest or most succesful platform to recreation on.

Still, the unique does nonetheless exist in fact – and Namco have since been concerned in creating a number of Mario Kart arcade video games, all of which characteristic PacMan as a selectable character!

So PacMan’s kart racing recreation legacy is safe, it appears!

We right here at Retro Dodo certain do like bending the principles, don’t we?

PacMania is actually basic PacMan, albeit with faux-3D visuals from an isometric perspective (and different isometric video games have known as themselves 3D – hiya, Sonic 3D Blast!). 

There are just a few further parts: for instance, PacMan can now leap. This is a life-saver however does – like kung-fu combating – require professional timing. 

There’s additionally two new ghosts with some surprisingly hilarious names: Funky and Spunky. Annoyingly, each of them can leap too – and it’s truly inconceivable to leap over Spunky.

Other new additions embody colored energy pellets which have further results on our outnumbered yellow protagonist!

Though Pac-Mania was delivered to an enormous variety of dwelling consoles and computer systems, the arcade unique stays one of the best ways to play. This model has additionally been delivered to computer systems and consoles by way of compilations – most just lately, within the wonderful Pac Man Museum+ on PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox One.

The first PacMan World was nicely acquired, however coming late within the lifespan of the PS1 meant that its sequel arrived all shiny and new on then next-gen consoles!

PacMan World 2 additionally arrived at a time when 3D platformers had turn into a bit extra open and fewer linear, which reveals within the recreation’s stage design.

There’s even an in-game arcade which permits gamers to get their arms on the unique PacMan, Ms PacMan, PacMania and intelligent puzzle recreation PacAttack.

PacMan World 2 is a superb sequel that narrowly misses out on the highest spot of our greatest 3D PacMan video games listing – and that’s for an excellent motive.

Unfortunately, the digital camera is usually a actual hindrance to gameplay at occasions – so, regardless of the wonderful stage design and beautiful audiovisual model, it doesn’t fairly make it to primary right here.

What does although? Let’s take a look at the sport that we think about the best possible ever of the 3D PacMan video games!

Released simply earlier than PacMan’s twentieth Anniversary, PacMan World even weaves the yellow dot muncher’s birthday into its storyline.

Returning dwelling on his birthday to find that these pesky ghosts have kidnapped his household, PacMan units off to rescue them – going by a number of themed worlds to take action.

Though some stage designs do really feel extra 2.5D than 3D, the invisible partitions and infrequently fastened digital camera do truly assist to maintain the gameplay centered – the angle does generally trigger points with precision platforming and merchandise assortment, however these moments are few and much between.

Mostly, that is only a actually enjoyable and nicely designed – if considerably predictable – platformer, with PacMan himself having a diverse and versatile moveset. 

At many factors, ranges could be tackled in a barely non-linear style too – so when you do get caught, there’s all the time the choice to go to a unique world and check out your luck there earlier than heading again to the stage you’re having problem with.

Lots of references to basic Namco video games and characters from different sequence – together with Dig Dug and Galaxian – are included, plus there’s bonus ranges on every stage within the type of 3D variations of basic PacMan mazes.

It’s an exquisite journey of nostalgia and basic gameplay; the truth is, it’s so fondly remembered that it’s been remade this 12 months as PacMan World: Re-Pac, which makes solely minor modifications to the core gameplay to carry it to a contemporary viewers.

It’s additionally the one 3D PacMan recreation to have made it onto our finest Pac Man video games listing!

PacMan World is value trying out and it’s a transparent winner – as Retro Dodo’s selection for the highest of the most effective 3D PacMan video games listing!

Jason – who lives within the UK – has had a lifelong curiosity in video video games, which all began when he found Space Invaders within the early 80s. The first recreation he ever accomplished was Wonder Boy in Monster Land on the Sega Master System – which stays certainly one of his proudest gaming achievements. Jason is a passionate author – and has been writing about gaming for the reason that late 90s. He presently runs popular culture weblog midlifegamergeek.com, which he updates each day (and has written greater than 700 articles on the weblog alone!).

Outside of video video games, Jason is a eager tabletop gamer, movie buff and comedian e book fan.